Luca Pisaroni

Who is Luca Pisaroni?

Luca Pisaroni is an Italian operatic bass-baritone, known for his roles in Mozart's operas, but who has steadily expanded his repertoire into the Baroque as well as moving beyond into Rossini.

Although born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, when he was four years old his family moved to Busseto in Italy — the birthplace and home of the Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi. There, his father owned a car-repair firm and his mother was a teacher, but it was in that town where, he notes, "you feel Verdi's spirit all over the place!" and where his love of opera began.

After his musical training in Milan, Buenos Aires and New York, he made his professional debut in 2001 in Germany and sang Masetto at the 2002 Salzburg Festival in Mozart's Don Giovanni. It was through his appearance there that he met both the American baritone Thomas Hampson and his daughter Cate. They were subsequently married and now make their home in Vienna.

These early appearances led to engagements throughout the world in the major Mozart operas.